Electric cigar lighter



June 26, 1928.

. C. H. CUNO ELECTRIC CIGAR lI lGrl'ITER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 19,y 1925 INVENTOR June 26, 1928.

C. H. CUNO ELECTRIC CIGAR LIGHTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 19, 1925 jgno.

mventoz Patented June 26, 1928.

UNITED SIA-res CIIARLEs H. CUNO, OF MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT, Assis-NORTOn THE CUNO ENGINEER INC CORPORATION, or MERIDEMCONNECTICUT, A `COERORATICN or CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRIC CIGAR LIGHTER.

' Application led September My invention relates particularly to a self-Winding reel and switch for lcigar lighters and trouble lamps for automobiles and the like and a therefor.

O ne objectis to provide a simple but reliable switchl for turning on the Current automatically when the cigarlighter hasbeenl drawn outthe minimum distance for light ing and keeping it fonl as the cord is drawn out and opening the Circuit automatically soon after reWinding is begun and regardlessof the distance to Which the cord has previously been drawn out.

Another object is to provide a durable cord of small diameter so that Van extra long length can be contained on a given size reel.

Fig. 1 is a side view of a device embodying one torni of my invention, one side of the casing being broken away to shoiv the switch, the lighter being in and the switch openlor ofl".

Fig. 2 is arvertical sectional View on the.v plane oit the line 2- 2 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 3 and l areside views similar to Fig. 1- but on'a smaller scale andshowing thecigar lighter' in ydifferent dravvnout positions-'the full `line 'posit-ions being'vvith the current on andfthedotted positions HOE. 1

Fig. 5 is a detailsectional view showing he connection to the `rotatable switch mem- Fig. 6 is a fragmentaryvievv of the preferred form of Aconductor.'

Fig. 7 is a 'side view of the'preferred form of device one side of the casing being re moved v Fig. 8 isa vertical sectional view of the device of'Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a section and plan ofthe same.

Fig.`10 is arsectional view of anotherftorin i' ofnsyvitch member.

The casing may be any suitable form for instance `having a body 6 and'removable side 7 formed of sheet metal.`

The reel or drum has a tubular metal hub 8 with flanges 9 and V10. The r'Harige 9 houses the usual Winding spring. The iiange'l() is formed ofa disc. of insulating material and is secured to the hub by lugs cable or conductor cord 19, 1925.k seriar No; 57,349.

or' tangs 11. A central spindle 12 supports `the reeland holds the parts ot' the casing together. l i

The cigar lighter or other translating or vvith the .disc 10-a hole 16 being provided Y into which theconductor isinserted and Where it is soldered to the plate 15.

The spring arm 1"( carries a `Contact point `18 adapted to Aengage the contact plate 15.

This arm is hinged to the circuit terminal 19 and is held in placeby itspressure against theinsulating sheet 20.'

The-disc 10 has grooves or paths 21, 22 and Contact arm as the disc is rotated. The outer and Inner grooves 21 and 22 are substantially concentric With the hub. Thecuri-entv is otl When the Contact point 18 is iny the Y .outer groove 21and on when the point is in the'innergijoove 22"'rest'ing against the Contact/plate' 15. These grooves are substantially non-progressive. The connecting grooverQ, however', is spiral ,and causes the Contact point'to move V'outward or inward ,der pending upon Whether the cord is :being wound or unwound;

The shoulder 24 pushes the vcontactpoint inwardly 'and the projecting finger 25 `directs the Contactk pointnto the spiral connecting' groove as the Cord is drawn out. Friction of the arm 17 against the sheetO prevents vthe arln from; falling While the Contact point passes yfrom the shoulderQil to the beginning of the spiral progressive or Contact moving groove.

Asthe cordis drawn out alittle more than oney turn of. the `reel (in this instance about one and one quarter turns) the Contact point 18 is moved into engagement with the contact plate. 15 and the current is on. rlheiinner groove 22 is soshaped that the switch will stay on so long. as the vcord 'is being held stationary or being pulled out still further.

v 7hen the cord is released the circuit Will be interrupted as soon as the reel has turned current consuming device 13 is connected' l 23 which constitute 4Cams for controlling the Y also formed of fine wires. lto get the necessary strength, flexibility, and "conductivity with a minimum diameter of i far enough to permit the shoulder 26 and the linger 27 to move the Contact point 18 off the plate 15 and into the spiral connecting groove 22. y y c It will be seen that this construction permits the reel to turn an indefinite number of times with the contact off or on so that a cord of any `length may be used and the switch will always operate the saine regardless of the length and without'daiiger of the contacts being displaced or the apparatus disabled.

The cable or cord is preferably formed with a multi-stranded conductor core 27 embedded in a sheath 28 of suitable insulating composition such as gutta-percha or rubber. Around this is braided another conductor 29 This enables me cord and expense. p

ASince the outer conductor 29 is grounded it is not absolutely necessary that it be covered with insulation but I prefer to provide a braided Vcovering 30.

In thepreferredform of Figs. 7 to 10 the contact plate 15 is secured to the hub side of the insulating disc 10'; the Contact arni 17 is guided by the pin18 in the grooves in the cam disc and the` outside of the arm is adapted to engage the plate 15 as the cord Vis drawn out and the reel rotated. The

This arrangement ensures 'a maximum of safety and convenience and aminimum ofV current consumption.

There is also very little wear on the grooves and the contacts.

\ In the form as shown in Fig. 1() the insulating disc 10 has the outer groove and part of the spiral and the inner grooveaiid part of `the spiral are formed in the metal disc 15a. The action of this form is similar to that of Figs. 1 and 2.

i The iexible conductor is claimed in in application 122,7 94., filed uly 16th, 1926.

I claim :V 1. An electric cigar lighter switch comprising a cam member having two circumferentially complete non-progressive guide grooves and a connecting progressive groove, a conductive member carried by said cam member adjacent one of said non-progressive grooves, and an arm having a contact adapted to be automatically propelled` by said grooves.l i

2. Inan electric switch, a cam member having two V continuous concentric grooves and a spiral connecting groove, a conductive i conduct-ive y spring for winding sai member carried by said cam member spaced apart .from one oi said concentric grooves and a contact arm guided by said grooves.

3. In an electric switch, a cam member having two continuous concentric grooves and a spiral connecting groove of the same depth, a conductive vmember 'adjacent one of said concentricgrooves and a contact arm guided by said grooves, each of said concentric grooves having a deiecting shoulder projecting toward Said connecting groove to direct said contactarni into said connecting groove under -certain circumstances and means for frictionally. holding said arm in its various positions. y.

4.. A reel comprisingra cable drum, a spring for winding said drum'in one direction, an insulating disc forming oneange of said drum and having two concentric grooves and a connecting spiral groove, a conductive wall ad]acent one of said concentricgrooves, a cable` wound on said drum having one conductor grounded on said drum and the other connected to said convductivewall and a contact arm` guidedin said grooves.

5. In an` electric switch, a reel, an insulating cam member carried thereby and having two concentric circumferentially complete grooves and a connecting progressive groove,

ua conduct-ive memberV carried by said cam member, adjacent" said inner groove, a cord wound onsaid reel and an arm having a contact adapted to be automatically propelled in said grooves fromthe outer to the inner groove as the cord is pulled out.

6. In a switch, an insulating cam having two continuous grooves, one surrounded by the other and a spiral connecting groove, a member adjacent theV inner groove and a contact arm guided bysaid grooves, Veach of said continuous grooves having a defiecting shoulder to direct said contact arm into said connecting groove un'- der certain circumstancesi.4

7. A reel comprising` a cable drum, a tion, an insulating disc forming one fiange of said drum and. having two concentric grooves and a connecting spiral groove, a

conductive wall adjacent one of said concentric grooves, a cable wound on said drum having an outer conductor grounded on said drum and an inner conductor connected to said conductive wall and a contact arm guided in said grooves. i

8. A reel having aconducting flange at one end and an insulating disc with a groove at the other end anda conductor adjacent` said disc and having a portion exposednear 'said groove, said disc and plate having a passage, a conductor wire connected to said conductor in said passage and a conductor wire grounded on said flange.`

9. A switch reel having an insulating drum in one direcy disc with a projecting hub, a Contact plate mounted in said hub, said disc having two concentric continuous grooves and a con necting progressive groove, and a swinging Contact arm guided by said grooves and adapted to engage beneath said contact plate.

l0. A switch reel comprising an insulating disc having two concentric continuous grooves and a connecting spiral groove, a contact arm guided by said grooves, and a contact rotatable with said disc and contacting with said contact arm while said arm is guided by the inner continuous groove and also while it is guidedl by a substantial part of said spiral groove.

l1. In an electric switch, a cam member having two circumferentially complete nonprogressivecampaths and a connecting progressive path, a contact/arm comprising a :follower engaging said paths, a conductive member carried by said cam member, and a contact adapted to be automatically propelled by said paths into and out of engagement with said conductive member.

CHARLES H. CUNC). 

